Lacson to get Central Mindanao Airport off the ground (Sabong News)

Independent presidential candidate Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson aims to operationalize the Central Mindanao Airport, also known as M’lang Airport in North Cotabato. He said the airport will serve domestic passengers on top of transporting agricultural products coming from the area and its neighboring provinces. Lacson indicated the feasibility of this plan through his flagship Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) program during his and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s visit to North Cotabato this week with senatorial bet Manny Piñol. The project, a brainchild of Piñol, was begun during his term as governor of the province from 1998 to 2007. In 2001, it received an initial funding of P2.8 million from the national government. However, the project had been mothballed by succeeding leaderships. “Doon sana kayo lalapag kasi pwede na lapagan e (I was supposed to land there). Kaya lang hindi pa recognized ng (But it was not recognized by) CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) as an operating airport,” Piñol was quoted saying at their recent town hall meeting in M’lang. According to Lacson, completing the project is doable if he and Sotto would be given the mandate to carry out their BRAVE agenda, among other carefully thought-out campaign platforms. He underscored that judicious public spending is key toward accomplishing these practical goals. “Kayang-kayang bigyan ‘yung North Cotabato bilang isang lalawigan (ng) P1-billion a year on top of IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) para sa kanilang development at saka livelihood. Kaya. That’s only P81-billion (We can really provide North Cotabato as a province P1-billion a year on top of IRA for its development and livelihood [projects]). It can be done,’’ Lacson told multi-sectoral organization leaders in Cotabato. Under the BRAVE concept, local government units (LGU) nationwide would be allocated specific funds to implement their development plans through their active involvement in proposing projects that would be included in the National Expenditure Program of the government. Piñol says completing the M’lang Airport project is one of his dreams that he wants to see fulfilled under a Lacson-Sotto administration. “Sa tulong po ninyo… Kapag nagtagumpay tayo ay ‘yon lang ang hihingin ko,” he told the running mates. (With your help… If we emerge successful [n our campaign] that would be my only request),’’ he added. Lacson expressed his commitment to deliver on this task, as he and Sotto pointed out that under their watch, reports of over P328 billion funds wasted on unused and abused appropriations would hopefully be a thing of the past. “Bago ka tumanda hindi ‘yung bago ka mamatay. Kasi alam niyo development ‘yan e. Bakit hindi uubra? Dapat unahin natin ‘yung local government units (LGU). Ang problema, masyadong central ang ating control ng budget (We will fulfill that dream before you get older, not before you die. Because, you know, that’s for development. Why would it not be operational? We should prioritize our LGUs. The problem is that the control of our national budget has been centralized),’’ Lacson replied to Piñol on his aspirations for his province. Lacson explained that their BRAVE program aims to devolve the implementation of certain programs to the LGUs, so they would ensure that the design and construction of these projects are responsive to the needs and priorities of their communities. “Ang national government dapat ang papel lang parang big brother na lang, taga-tingin over the shoulders, titingnan kung tama at kung mali, tutulungan. At kung talagang mali pa rin at inaabuso, paparusahan. Ganoon dapat ang papel ng national government (The role of our national government should be like that of a big brother, someone who looks over the shoulders [of the LGUs], see if things are being implemented correctly; if not, assist. If it reaches a point where it’s already being abused, punish. That should be the role of our national government),’’ Lacson said.